POLICE believe they have smashed a major drugs smuggling racket after seizing more than #18m worth of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.

POLICE believe they have smashed a major drugs smuggling racket after seizing more than #18m worth of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy.

Four men from Merseyside were arrested in a series of dawn raids after officers found 100 kilos of cocaine, 40 kilos of heroin and 64 kilos of ecstasy when they stopped a lorry outside Glasgow on Saturday (October 19).

The drugs had been stashed beneath 19 tonnes of bananas which were being carried in the vehicle.

Detectives say they were destined for the Merseyside drugs market.

Four men aged 33, 40, 43 and 53 are from Merseyside. They were being interviewed by detectives today (Monday, October 21).

A fifth man, aged 41 from Glasgow, was also arrested. He is believed to be the lorry driver.

Det Chief Supt Stuart Kernohan said: "This is a significant seizure which will have a major impact on the supply of drugs in Merseyside, the UK and Scotland.

"The seizure and arrests of five men by Merseyside's Force Crimes Operation Unit, with the help of Customs and Excise and Strathclyde Police, comes as a result of an 18 month surveillance operation targeting Liverpool drug syndicates.

"This is a significant result in our commitment to taking class A drugs off the street and cracking down on organised crime on Merseyside and we will continue to keep up the pressure on criminals who blight the lives of our communities."

It is the latest in a series of operations by the police over the last 12 months targeting drugs gangs and brings the total amount of class A substances seized to almost #70m.

Det Chief Insp Dave Kelly said: "We are still making inquiries and there may be further arrests.

"It sends out a message to the community that we are aware of the problems and we are tackling them.

"It also sends out a message to those involved in this sort of crime that we are out there and we are watching you."